Well tool



Jan. 6, 1931. A M s. BLACK WELL TOOL Filed March 12, 1928 Il il.

AWN

Patented Jan. 6, 1931 MILLARD S.V,BLACK, OF HNTINGTON PARK, CALIFORNIA WELL TOOL Application filed March 12, 1928. Serial No. 260,823.

j This invention has to do with a well tool and relates particularly to a tool operable to engage orv grip casing located in a well. It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved and simplified casing gripping tool.

It is a general object of .this invention t provide a casing engaging or gripping tool operable to tightly engage or grip a casing in ,g a well. The present invention is capable of embodiment in various forms, making it suitable for a variety of uses. `For instance,the invention may be used as a holding tool or spear, it being useful in a jar down spear as Well as in a jar up spear. For purpose of eX- ample, I will refer to the invention as em- Vbodied in a tool for holding a casing against Y' rotation, it being understood that this specic reference is not to be construed as a limitation or restriction upon the broader principles of the invention.

,An object of my present invention is to provide a casing'gripping tool in which the casing engaging members are mounted so that they are particularly effective and are reliable in operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tool of the character mentioned in which the casingv engaging members may be actuated or made tight in engagement with the casing through rotation of the tool and/ or longitudinal movement of the tool.

. A further object of this invention is to provide a tool of the character mentioned in which the casing engaging members and the control or operating means therefor are combined and related in a simple eective manner.

The various objects and features of the invention will be best and more fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical form and application of the invention, throughout which description I refer to they accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal detailed sectional view of a well casing showing the tool providedfby this invention carried by a string of drill pipe and in operating engagement with a section of the casing. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of thetool showing it in the unactuated position, certain of the parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 3 is a View 'similar to Fig. 2 showing the tool actuated or set in the casing, and Fig. l is an enlarged sectional View of the body of the tool, being' a view taken immediately below the middle portion of the body looking up at the body, with all other parts of the tool removed.

ln setting forth my invention I will, for purpose of example only, describe it as applied tc tool for operation in a well casing to hold the casing' against rotation or to grip the casing for rotation. I have shown the tool arranged in a string of well casing 1() including a plurality of sections A joined by couplings B. In the drawings the tool is shown carried by a string of drill pipe 11 and set inthe casing at a point immediately below a coupling B.

The tool comprises, generally, a main part or body 12, casing gripping or engaging means 13k carried by the body, and opera-ting er control means 14 for the Acasing engaging means 13.

The body 1Q is an elongate member forming a carrier for the other parts of the tool, and is preferably7 formed with an upper end portion 15 adapt-ed to be connected with a string of drill pipe 11, or the like, a middle portion 16 carrying the means 1'3, and a lower end portion 17 carrying the control means 14.

In the particular form of body shown in the drawings the upper end portion 15 is provided in its upper end Awith tapered screwthreaded socket 18 to receive the pin of a sub or tool joint section embodied in a string of drill pipe, or the like. The middle portion 16 of ythe body may be integral with the end parts and is shaped and proportioned to actuate the lmeans 13, as will be hereinafter described: rPhe lower end portion 17 of the body is in the form of a rod or stem projecting downwardly from the middle portion 16 to carry the means 14. The lower end of the part 17 is provided with a stop, for instance a nut 19, which serves to retain the means 14 in ,place he casing engaging or gripping means 13 interior of the casing.

is preferably a slip means embodying a plurality of wedge membersl or slips arranged symmetrically around the middle portion -of' the body so that they are operable vfrom a collapsed or retracted position to an expanded or operating position where-they engage the In accordance with my presentinventiom the slips -are mounted'onrthe middlepor-v tion 16 of the body lso that theymoye upwardly and radially outward andat' the time laterally or in a direction transverse of the longitudinal axis of the tool. In the particular construction illustnated the middle y portion of the body lis providedwith a 'plus rality of upwardly andradially. outwardly extending faces 21on which the slips 20 are carried. The faces 21 are pitched or angularly disposed so thatthey give the slips the desiredradial movement as they move upwardly. Y Y Y l The slips are guided. on thefaces 21 so that theyhave the desired lateral movement as Vtheyrnove upwardly and radially. lIn the construction illustrated dovetailed guideways 22 are formed in the vfaces 21 and are pitched or angularly disposed with reference, to the longitudinal axis vof the tool to give the slips the desired lateral movement. VThe slips have ribs 23 formed ontheir inner or rear faces to slidably operate in the guideways The outer faces of the slips 2O are made to extend parallel with the longitudinal axis of the tool and are made to conform generally with the curature of the interior of the casing4 10.

Where the tool isto` be used in holding casing against rotation orfor rotating' casing the o uter faces. of the slips are-preferably provided with casing 'engaging or gripping teeth 25 which extend vertically or in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the tool. If this Vtool is to be `used as a spear' the teeth maybe arranged horizontally. In shapingV or curving the outer faces of the` slips l have found it practical to arrange the slipsin the unactuated position shown in Fig. 2, mount the tool in a lathe and then turn theslips to the diameter desired for the retracted position. I-then operate the slips .to the extended p position as shown in Fig. 3 and turn the slips to the diameter desired for the expanded posi tion. lnthis way VI have found it practical to obtain a proper fitting of the slips in the casing in spite of the lateral. movement given the slips by the pitching of theguideways 22. .lt is to be understood, of course', that the gripping teeth 25 may beformed on the faces of the slips after the faces have beenproperly shaped. f

. Inthe preferred form ofthe invention a stop collar 26 is applied to the upper vend.

portion 15 of the body adjoiningthe upper end of the middle portion 16 to form a positive stop for preventing the slips passing out of the upper ends'of the guid'eways.

. CasngrlcO- n same` The control means 14 is in the nature of a tail piece slidably carried on the lower end portion 17 of the body. The tail piece includes an upper collar 30 slidable on the ybody portion 17, a lower collar 31 slidableon the body portion 17 and a plurality of leaf springs 32 extending `between kthe collars and shaped tojbear outwardlyv against the interior of the An over-hanging or` inwardly extending flange 33 isprovidedon the upper end ofthe top collar 30 to hold lugs 341 which project outwardly from the lower ends of the slips 20.- Ther liange 33 .and lugs 34 cooperate so vthat theslips are moved longitudinally with the collar v30 and arerfre to expand radially in the desired manner. 1 Y g.

The top collar 30 is adapted to bey releasably held in afdown or junactuated position by means of apin 36 projectingfrom thexbody portion 17 and cooperating with a bayonet slot 37 in the collar. Y VWhen the collar. 30 is held down as showninFig. 2,- the pin .36 is in the inner endl of the bayonet slot :37 and-.the slips are down or unactuated. To release the collar 30, so thatthecollar is movable to actuate the slips along'the faces 21, thebody is rotated to disengage the pin 36 from the inner lieved-that the operation of the tool'cwill be fully understood. The .tool is applied tothe lower end of a string ofv drillpipell, orA the like', and lowered to the desired point in well vcasing 10,. The parts of the toolv are arranged as shown .in Fig. 2as itY is lowered `into the well. The springs 32 of the tailxpiece norfV mallyfrictionally engage l the l interior of the casingV 10. When the 4tool has reached'the desired point the springs-32 hold the tail piece stationary so that the body can Ybe rotated from the drillpipe to disengage ,the pin 36 from the inner end of the bayonet slot. The slipsimaythen be yoperated into expanded or casing engaging position by downWardmovement of the body and,f`if necessary, by downward movement of the body coupled with rotation of the body.. Y Y f 'i In a tool to be used whilecasing is being unscrewed, the guideways 22 are preferably pitched or angularly disposed so 'that the tendency for the casing to rotate during'the unscrewing loperation merely tends totighten the grip of the slips in the casing. The same action isV obtained'when the tool is used Yas a spear. To release the tool the drill pipe 11 is moved upwardly toV lift the body from the slips,.the. slips release their gripl on the casing allowing thejpartsv to return to a position'such as shown in'F ig. 2 in which position the tool Having described only a typical preferred form of my invention, I do not wish to limit myself to the specific details set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any changes or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims Having described my invention, I claim: l. A well tool of the character described l including, a body having flat faces extending longitudinally of the body and radially outward from the longitudinal axis of the body,

slips operable longitudinally on said faces,.

, and guide means whereby the slips are moved tangentially upon operation longitudinally along the faces.

3. A well tool of the character described, including a body having faces extending longitudinally of the body andl radially outward from the longitudinal axis of the body, slips operable on said faces, and means whereby the slips are moved obliquely upon operation along the faces, said means including angularly disposed slip guides at the faces. s

l. A well tool of the character described including, a body having flat inclined faces, slips arranged to operate on the faces, mea-ns for operating the slips including a vcollar slidably connected with the body and di rectly connectedv with the slips and friction springs attached to the collar, and guide means for guiding the slips obliquely on said faces.

5. A well tool -of the character described including, a body having flat inclined faces, slips arranged to operate on the faces, means for operating the slips including a collar slidably carried on the body and directly connected with the slips, a second collar, friction v springs carried'between the collars, and guide means for guiding the slips tangentially on said faces.

6. A well tool of the character described including, a body having fiat inclined faces, slips arranged to operate on the faces, means for operating the slips including a collar slidably connected with the body and direetly connected with the slips, and friction springs attached to the collar, the connection between the collar and slips including a flange on the collar and lugs on the slips cooperating with the flange, and guide means for guiding the slips tangentially on the faces.

7. A well tool of the character described including, a body having fiat inclined faces, slips arranged to operate on the faces, means for operating the slips including a collar slidably connected with the body and directly connected with the slips, a releasable connection between the body and collar, friction springs attached to the collar, and means whereby the slips are moved tangentially upon longitudinal movement on the faces.

8. A well tool of the character described including, slips, a body having flat slip carrying parts extending longitudinally ofthe body radially outwardly and tangentially, the slips being shiftable longitudinally on said parts.

9. A well tool of the character described including, slips, a body having straight slip carrying guides extending longitudinally of the body radially outwardly and tangentially.

l0. A well tool of the character described including, a body having faces extending longitudinally of the body and radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the body, slips operable longitudinally on said faces, and means whereby the slips are moved tangentialy upon operation along the faces, l.

said means including` ribs on the slips slidable in guideways in the said faces.

1l. A well tool of the character described including, a body having faces extending longitudinally of the body and radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the body, slips operable longitudinally on said faces, and means whereby the slips are moved tangentially upon operation along the faces, said means includingl dovetailed ribs on the slips operable in guideways in the said faces.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 3rd day of March, 1928.

MILLARD S. BLACK. 

